Chipper Jones says his Braves must add pitching to compete with the Nationals in the NL East

Leave it to the guy who's retiring to advocate for a big move at the trading deadline, as those kinds of deals can clean out the top end of a farm system and don't always bring return beyond the current calendar year. But, as they say this time of year, the present is now.

The Atlanta Braves have won seven of eight, are second in the National League wild-card race and have gained two games on the Washington Nationals in 10 days, four of which were consumed by the All-Star break.

"We're going to have to get better to contend," Chipper Jones said recently. "I think we both know the Nationals have a pretty good team, a pretty good staff."

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